Summertime Mowing And Spraying
Trent Brandenburg has been busy mowing his lawn and his roadsides due to the sunshine and frequent rains making his grass grow as well as his corn and soybeans. He has been hiring aerial spraying of fungicides to suppress disease in his corn and soybeans. Trent invests in the spraying in order to improve his crop test weights at harvest and thus get a higher price at the elevator.
Trent has noticed a new trend in aerial spraying this year: the use of drones. These are big drones, in order to carry the tank and nozzles. They are more maneuverable near towns and better able to avoid power lines. The airplane needs more climbing distance to clear the power lines or other obstructions near its flight path. The drones can deliver a more accurate spray pattern near the obstructions by being more maneuverable. Trent notes that technology is wonderful but more expensive.
More from The Field Report
From Drought To Ponding And Replanting
In barely months, Trent's challenges have gone from extreme drought to repeated ponding and replanting. Trent has replanted some corn and soybeans twice, only to have the ponding return yet again. "I don't think I will try to replant corn [...]
Corn And Soybean Planting Done, Some Germinated, More To Come
Trent Brandenburg is happy to have completed his corn and soybean planting by the 15th of May. "It's slow," he said, commenting on the germination delay by the recent cool temperatures. Moderately heavy rains the last few days have caused [...]
Worked Some Fields, With A Sunny Day Could Begin Planting
Trent Brandenburg has "worked a couple of fields, they're barely ready" after several days of rain last week. "If we get a sunny day tomorrow I could plant some," Trent continued. The long-standing extreme drought in central Illinois has been [...]